Haye started his ambition and passion for boxing at old-school boxing gym Fitzroy Lodge Boxing Club, where he quickly impressed and confidently won his first amateur bouts.
At the 2001 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland he fought in the heavyweight 201 lb division where he beat world class Sebastian Köber to reach the final where he gave Cuban Odlanier Solís a standing eight before getting stopped by TKO (round 3) and taking the silver medal.
Professional career
Based in Bermondsey, London, England, Haye turned professional in December 2002. Haye KO's his first 10 opponents before dispatching ex-World cruiserweight champion "King" Arthur Williams in five rounds.
Based in Bermondsey, London, England, Haye turned professional in December 2002. Haye KO's his first 10 opponents before dispatching ex-World cruiserweight champion "King" Arthur Williams in five rounds.
Haye is the first British boxer to win a world heavyweight title since Lennox Lewis, and only the sixth Briton in history to win the title after Lewis, Bob Fitzsimmons, former WBC champion Frank Bruno, Herbie Hide (WBO) and Henry Akinwande (WBO).
Haye is the first and currently only boxer in the history of the sport to be seven stone or more lighter than an opponent in a World title fight and still come out victorious.
